Fantagraphics Blog

(From Panter's 2013 Fredericks & Frasier exhibit)  Thursday, September 4th  Influential cartoonist, painter, and professor, Gary Panter, will be celebrating his newst work during an art exhibition at Fredericks & Frasier Gallery with an opening reception on September 4th, from 6-8 PM! Surreal pop art, with a day-glo vibe. Or expressionistic sci-fi and punk cartoons. Maybe imaginative, and super saturated set designs. How about shoe illustrator? All of these things describe the award winning artist throughout his extensive and impressive career. Be a part of the brilliant madness with his third exhibition installment at the Chelsea gallery, that will open early on August 26th, and…

This week's comic shop shipment is slated to include the following new titles. Read on to see what comics-blog commentators and web-savvy comic shops are saying about them (more to be added as they appear), check out our previews at the links, and contact your local shop to confirm availability. Wandering Son (Hourou Musuko / 放浪息子) Vol. 7 by Shimura Takako 220-page black & white (with some color) 7" x 9.5" hardcover • $24.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-750-5  "…[L]ike the best coming-of-age stories – comics or otherwise – Wandering Son is meticulously accurate in its details, but universal in its emotions. Gay or not, readers shouldn't find…

An Age of License by Lucy Knisley 196-page black & white/color 5.5" x 7.5" softcover • $19.99 ISBN: 978-1-60699-768-0 Ships in: September 2014 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Acclaimed cartoonist Lucy Knisley (French Milk, Relish) got an opportunity that most only dream of: a travel-expenses-paid trip to Europe and Scandinavia, thanks to a book tour. An Age of License is Knisley's comics travel memoir recounting her charming (and romantic!) adventures. It’s punctuated by whimsical visual devices (such as a "new experiences" funnel); peppered with the cute cats she meets along the way; and, of course, features her hallmark —…

The Ghost of the Grotto, Starring Walt Disney's Donald Duckby Carl Barks 96-page full color 5.5" x 7.5" softcover • $12.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-779-6 Ships in: October 2014 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now One of Donald Duck's most famous adventures leads off our new line of affordable kid-sized Donald Duck books: just-right half-height books packed with fun, laughs, and adventure in every 96-page edition. Each story is complete with all the original story and art (no panels have been dropped or altered). In "Donald Duck and the Ghost of the Grotto," Donald and his nephews try to harvest kelp at Skull-Eye…

Wednesday, August 6th   The Fantagraphics Bookstore is a happening place this week, and we're starting that party early by holding a reception for exceptional Toronto cartoonist, Georgia Webber. From 6-9:00 pm, get aquainted with one of your new favorite artists, as she debuts work from the web-serialized, autobiographical story, "Dumb". A terrifying true-story about losing her voice, and trying to not lose her mind, all while learning to cope and heal.   Saturday, August 9th Now in stores! Come celebrate the release of JIM with none other than Jim! (Woodring that is.) Part anthology, part retrospective, Jim is his namesake's cartoon alter-ego, traversing the…

Oh, Lucy. Here is the finalized cover artwork for the next volume in our Peanuts Every Sunday series, which collects the beloved comic's full-color Sunday strips, faithfully reproduced to match the original syndicate coloring. Whether you've been collecting Charles M. Schulz's work for years, or are introducing a new generation to these iconic characters, Peanuts Every Sunday: 1956-1960 (Vol. 2) is sure to be a treasured addition to any household. The book has just been made available for pre-order, and we'll have more previews over the next few months, with an anticipated November 2014 release.

Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 2: 1981-1983by Ed Piskor 112-page full color 9” x 13” softcover • $27.99ISBN: 978-1-60699-756-7 Ships in: September 2014 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now Book 2 covers the early years of 1981-1983, when Hip Hop has made a big transition from the parks and rec rooms to downtown clubs and vinyl records. The performers make moves to separate themselves from the paying customers by dressing more and more flamboyantly until a young group called RUN-DMC comes on the scene to take things back to the streets. This volume covers hits like Afrika Bambaataa’s "Planet Rock,"…

July 30, 2014 – Seattle, WA. Jim Woodring is often described as among the most important cartoonists of his generation. This assessment is confirmed in the pages of JIM, the latest anthology of Woodring’s work. Meet this amazing artist at Fantagraphics Bookstore on Saturday, August 9 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The eclectic content of JIM ranges from confessional autobiographical stories to the idiosyncratic allegorical comix that have come to define this prolific artist. This collection, available for the first time at Fantagraphics Bookstore, spans 30 years of spellbinding creativity. Join us on Saturday, August 9 to commemorate the publication…

The word is out! The night before the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, MD (aka SPX), Atomic Books is hosting their annual party. This year will have a stellar cast of characters doing readings from their comics and signing. On September 12th from 5-6pm, enjoy the THE Charles Burns signing his third installment of his current series called Sugar Skull. From 7-9pm, your ears will be thrilled by the sights and sounds of Ed Piskor (Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 2), Simon Hanselmann (Megahex), Noah Van Sciver (with his AdHouse book Youth Is Wasted), Emily Flake, Josh Bayer and Tom Neely plus MORE.    We can't wait, so save some…

This week's summery, sun-warmed collection of Online Commentaries and Diversions: Review: Gast by Carol Swain "Woven through the pages, impressing lightly on Helen’s still child-like mind, are issues such as transgenderism and isolation, appearance and identity, the harsh truths surrounding the commercialisation of nature and the issue of suicide among struggling farmers." – Tom Murphy, Broken Frontier   Review: How To Be Happy by Eleanor Davis "Davis notes in the book's opening pages that 'this is not a book about how to be happy,' and I agree. How to Be Happy is a book that shows people living with despair,…